Latch mechanism



Aug. 26, 1952 E. 1.. ALLEN 2,608,423

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J -3 2 Z J FIG. 1

INVENTOR.

BYEDWIN L ALLEN A T TORNEYST g- 6, 1 E. ALLENK 2,608,428

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fic-L7 IN V EN TOR.

E- IDWIN L. ALLEN B ATTORNEYS S m m M 1 T m N M 2 m L f m m 5 0 E B E L ALLEN LATCH MECHANISM Aug. 26, 1952 Filled Sept 14, 1948 wa R L P am ml m m W I A m m G W s W cm 0 M Nm EN um m L H C n L Aug. 26, 1952 Flled Sept 14, 1948 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 LATCH MECHANISM Edwin L; Allen, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Rudolph'l. Schonitzer, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 14, 1948,.Serial No. 49,210

' This invention relates toilatch mechanisms and more particularly to an improved latch particularly adapted for rigidly ibut releasably securing doors or the like in closed position.

In modern passenger automobile and truck bodies a rear deck lid or rear door is commonly provided .for access to a storage or carrying compartment of the vehicle. The usual arrangement for'latching such doors or deck lids is to install some sort of a door latch at the centerof the lateral width of the lid or door structure. This has been reasonably satisfactory where the door is of relatively narrow width and rigid construction but in certain types of vehicles these rear .deck lids' or doors are so wide and so lightly built that when they are latched at the center only it is diflicult to obtain a proper closure at the outer edge portions of the door. Furthermore when such adoor is latched only at the center it maybe rather easy to break int the vehicle by inserting .atoo'l' between the body and the door at the outer edge of the door.

It is amon the objects of my present invention to provide a latch mechanism for door structures (it .being understood that where the term door is used herein. it is intended to include deck lids and other types of closures with which my latch mechanism may be incorporated) which is operable from the central portion of the door but which eiiectively latches the door at each edge thereof.

Other objects of my invention include: the provision of a latch mechanism for doors or the like which is provided with widely spaced latch members .and which may readily :be adapted for installation on diiTerent width doors with only minor changes in the mechanism; the provision of a rugged, efiicient, economically manufactured and easily installed latch mechanism which simultaneously latches a door to its supporting frame structure at widely spaced points; and the provision of a latch mechanism which will insure effective sealing and firm latching of the opposite sides of an automobile rear deck lid or the like.

The above and other objects of my invention will appear from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an automobile showing a typical installation of my improved latch mechanism in the rear deck lid thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal oross-sectional view, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and illustrating my latch mechanism indoor closed and latched position.

3 Claims. (Cl. 292-216) 2 1 Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially on line 3-3 of Figures 1 and'Z.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-.-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of one of the ether with its keeper pin, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 6+5 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a detached vertical cross-sectional view, taken substantially on line 1'I of Figure 2, and illustrating the sliding support blockfor the secondary plunger of the locating and actuating mechanism. y

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view, taken substantially on line 8-8' of Figures 2 and 9, and showing the arrangement of the operating elements of my latch mechanism.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detached illustrative view showing the arrangement of the latch spring and its anchor disc.

For convenience I have illustrated my latch mechanism only as applied to an automobile rear deck lid. It will be understood, howevenirom the following description that it also can be used to advantage on a vehicle side door where it is desirable to latch at the top and bottom of the door; on the rear vertical doors of a panel delivery type of truck; on the tail gates of station wagon types of bodies where it is desirable to latch at the two sides of the gate; or on any door Where it is desired to usetwo spaced points of latching.

In Figure 1 of the drawings an automobile l of usual form is illustrated as having a rear deck lid or door 2 hinged at its upper edge at 3 and 4 to the vehicle body. This rear deck lid ,2 is generally rectangular in outline but is curved in contour and includes an outer panel member 5 and an inner panel member 6 (see Figures 2, 3 and 4). These panels are spaced apart asubstantial distance to form a door of considerable thickness. At the perimeter of the door structure however the panels 5 and 6 are brought together (see Figures 2 and 3) and secured as by spot welding to form an edge flange I which ,extends at least around the sides and loweredge of the door structure. The opening in the body which is adapted to be closed by the door 2 is outlined by a channel shaped section 8 suitably secured to the body panel 9. The resilient sealing strip ID of sponge rubber or the like is reand a cover plate I3 which, with the plate I2,

forms a housing for the unit T. The base plate I 2 is extruded outwardly at I4 to form a 'support for a bearing bushing l 5 in which the shaft I6 is rotatably supported. This shaft I6 has its opposite end portions flattened as seen at IT and I8.

Disposed on the flattened end portion I8, for ro-.

tation with shaft I6, is the latch plate member I 9 and adjacent the latch plate member I9 and also:'

mounted on end portion I3 of shaft l6 for rotation therewith is the anchor disc 20. v

To urge the latch plate I9, toward its unlatched or operated position, as will be described later, a spiral spring 2I is employed. This spring has its outer end 22 anchored in the .upper end wall of cover plate I3 and its inner end 23 anchored in a notch 24 in the anchor disc 29. The spring 2I tends 'to rotate shaft I6 and latch plate I9 in clockwise direction as seen in Figure 8. To limit this rotation an abutment 25 is formed on the latch plate member 59 which, when the mechanism is in door closed or latched position, coacts with an abutment 26 on the detent 21 to prevent movement of the latch member I9 from its latched to unlatched position. Detent 21 is pivotally supported on a pin 28 which extends across between the plates I2 and I3, Secured to detent 21 and movable therewith about the pin 28 as a center is an actuating arm member 29 and the leaf spring 30 is anchored, at its upper end in the end wall of plate I3 and has its lower end bearing against the detent 21 adjacent the abutment 26 thereof and tending to urge the detent 21 and actuating arm 23 in latch restraining direction (counterclockwise as seen in Figure 8), Rotation of latch plate I9 in door unlatching direction (clockwise as seen in Figure 8) is limited by an abutment 3| formed thereon which is adapted to engage and be blocked by a struckout lug 32 on the base plate I2.

'Th e apparatus above described has certain features in common with the door control mechaccordingly made thereto.

As is clearly seen in Figures 2 and 9, the flattened end portions I1 and I8 of the shaft I6 extend outwardly on opposite sides of the center operating unit T. Extension tubes 33 and 34, having their inner end portions 33 and 34 fiattened to snuglyfit the end portions I7 and I8, respectively, of shaft I6, are supported by shaft I6 at their inner ends. Although shaft extensions 33 and 34 are shown as extending in line with the axis of rotation of shaft I6, it will be understood that in some cases these extensions may extend at an angle to the axis of shaft I6. Such angularity can normally be taken care of by providing a loose fitbetween the extensions and the ends of shaft I6 as the shafts ordinarily are not required to rotate through more than about 90. The outer ends of these extension shafts 33 and 34 are supported by the inner panel 6 of the deck lid structure and, as the arrangement of the outer end supports of each of these 4 shafts is substantially the same, it will suflice to describe only one of them.

Figure 2 illustrates tube 33 and it will be seen that its outer end carries a solid shaft element 35 rigidly secured thereto as by a press fit or by welding. At the outer end of shaft 35, and, as illustrated, extending substantially normally to the axis thereof, is the latch member L and it will be understood that the extension tube 33, shaft 35,

' and latch member L are secured together so as to form a rigid substantially integral structure. Shaft 35 is grooved at 36 to accommodate corresponding ridges 3'! on the semi-cylindrical bearing members 38 and 39. These bearing members or she1ls'38 and 39 are secured tothe inner panel 6 of deck lid 2 by bolts 40 as is clearly seen in Figures 5 and 6. To accommodate the latch membersupporting and guiding arrangement just described the inner panel 6 is bent inwardly as indicated at 6' in Figure 2 and recessed as seen at 4| in' Figures 2 and 5. Endwise movementof shaft 35, tube 33 and latch member L, is prevented by the engagement of ridges 31 in the groove 35 and the described arrangement provides a strong, economical and easily installed bearing support for shaft 35. As noted above, the tube 34 and its corresponding shaft end portion is similarly supported at its outer end and. carries a latch member L (Figure l) which functions in the same manner as latch member L, and is pref.- erably angularly aligned therewith about the axis of rotation of shaft I6. To accommodate my improved latch mechanism to different size door structures it is only necessary to make the tubes 33 and 34 of proper length to fit the installation conditions encountered. I

As is best seen in Figure 4 the latch member L is preferably of the bifurcated type having spaced leg portions 42 and 43 which, when the lid is closed as seen in Figures 4, 5 and 6, engage the keeper pin 44 which is rigidly supported 'on the door frame by a bracket 45 and bolts 46 (see Figure 6). When the latch members Land L are in their door latched positions in latching engagement with their respective keeper pins the centrally located unit Tis also in operative. or door latched position as seen in Figures 8 and 9 with the abutment 26 of detent 2! engaging abutment 25 of latch plate [9 thus positively preventing movement of the latch plate I9, shaft l 6, tubular extensions 33 and 34, and latch members L and L into door unlatched or released position. .When it is desired to release the latch mechanism pressure is exerted on the upper end of actuating arm 29 (Figure 8) swinging it, together with detent 21, in clockwise direction about its pivotal support on pin 28. This moves the abutment 26 out of engagement with abutment 25 and permits the spring 2| to rotate latch plate I9 and its associated parts until the abutment 3i strikes the lug 32. When this occurs the latch members L and L may rotate to assume the position indicated in phantom lines in Figure 4 and it will be seen that the door 2 may be lifted on its hinges 3 and 4 into open position.

.As the door 2 approaches closed position when it is being shut the leg 43 of latch arm L strikes the keeper pin 44, as indicated in phantom lines in Figure 4, and further closing motion of the door 2 causes the latch member L, shaft 35, extension 33 and latch plate l9 to rotate in door latching direction (clockwise in Figure 4 and counterclockwise in Figure 8) until the abutment 25 clears the abutment 26 on detent 2'! and permits the spring 33 to move detent 21 from its latch-released position back into its latch restraining position seen in Figure 8. Aslatoh ine'mbers L and L are aligned they haves'imul taneous latching and unlatching action. 1 l 1 From the above descriptiondt will be understood that a single mechanism disposed more or less centrally of the door'structure provideseffectivemeans for latchingopposite edge portions of" the door. Only a single operating control is required and the illustrated arrangement for manually operating and locking the latch mechanism will now be described. This mechanism possesses various features in common with the apparatus described and claimed in my co-pending United States patent application Serial No. 13,153 filed March 5, 1948 and cross-reference is accordingly made to this application.

A push button 4? (Figure 2) is slidably supported in a cup shaped housing 48 and urged outwardly by a spring 49. Screw 50 retains housing 59 in the decorative rear bracket member 5! which is mounted on body panel 5 and a main plunger 52 is carried by push button 4? and slidingly projects through a suitable aperture in bracket 5|. A secondary plunger 53 is supported in a tubular housing 54 and a spring 55 acts against the enlarged inner head portion of plunger 53 to urge same outwardly toward the main plunger 52. Tubular housing 54 is carried on a sliding plate or block 56 supported for lateral straight line movement in a cage 57. As is best seen in Figure 7 the sliding block 56 is slotted at 58 to accommodate a pin 59 which is eccentrically mounted on a disc 66 rotatably supported in a recess 5| in supporting bracket or casting 5! (see Figures land 3) From the above description it will be understood that rotation of the disc 68 will cause the sliding block 56 to move from its unlocked or operative position as seen in full lines in Figures 2 and 7 into its locked or inoperative position as seen in phantom lines in Figures 2 and 7. This movement of the disc 5! into and out of locked position is eifected by a cylinder lock 62 of usual and suitable type. This lock is connected by an operating link or shaft 63 to the disc 68 so that when the key fi l (Figure 3) is turned sliding block 56, tubular housing 54 and secondary plunger 53 will move therewith.

When the parts are in unlocked position as seen in Figure 2 inward movement of push button 4'! will cause the inner end of main plunger 52 to engage the outer enlarged head of secondary plunger 53 and push plunger 53 inwardly against the action of spring 55. The inner end of secondary plunger 53 is disposed adjacent the upper end of actuating arm 29 (see Figures 2 and 8) and thus depression of push button ll will cause actuating arm 29 to move inwardly and swing the detent 21 about its pivotal support to release the latch mechanism and permit opening of the door. If, however, secondary plunger 53 has been moved into its locked position by operation of the key controlled mechanism described above, then depression of push button 4'! will merely cause idling movement of main plunger 52 without any engagement with or movement of secondary plunger 53.

Although I have described the illustrated embodiment of my invention in considerable do" tail it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made in the form, proportions and arrangement of the parts which make up my improved structure without departing from the spirit of my invention. Furthermore, various types of locking and actuating means might be employed other than the arrangement herein shown, and'I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to theexact mechanism illustrated and described herein but claim as my invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A door latch mechanism adapted to be mounted-on a door in spaced relation to a pair of opposite edges thereof including a base plate, a rotatably supported shaft having oppositely extending free end portions projecting beyond said base plate on opposite sides thereof, a latch plate member mounted on said shaft adjacent said base plate and rotatable with said shaft, the outer ends of said shaft portions being disposed adjacent said opposite edges of said door, latch members spaced from. said base plate and secured to said shaft free end portions adjacent their outer ends, bearing means carried by said door adjacent said latch members and rotatably supporting said shaft portions adjacent their outer ends, said latch members being adapted to engage keeper means carried by the door frame structure, spring means operatively connected to said shaft for rotatably urging said shaft and latch plate member at all times in a direction tending to move said latch members in unlatching direction relative to said keeper means, de-

tent means for releasably engaging said latch plate and retaining said latch plate, shaft and latch members in door latched position against the action of said spring means, and manually operable means for moving said detent out of retaining engagement with said latch plate member.

2. A door latch mechanism including a base plate, a shaft having opposed free end portions, means on said base plate for supporting said shaft between its said free ends for rotation between a door latched position and a door un latched position, a latch plate member mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith between said door latched and door unlatched positions, spring means for urging said shaft at all times toward said door unlatched position, detent means for releasably retaining said latch plate member and shaft in said door latched position, extension shaft portions extending in opposite directions from each of said free ends of said shaft, and a latch member secured to each of said shaft extension portions adjacent to the outer end thereof.

3. In a door latch mechanism, a housing, a latch plate member, means for rotatably supporting said latch plate member on said housing, spring means for urging said latch plate at all times in door unlatching direction of rotation, a detent having a latch plate restraining position and a latch plate released position, said detent when in said latch plate restraining position being adapted to hold said latch plate against rotation in said door unlatching direction, shaft members rotatable with and extending from opposite sides of said latch plate through and beyond said housing, and latch members at the outer end of each of said shaft members, said latch members being adapted to engage spaced keeper means upon rotation of said shaft members and latch plate in a direction opposite to said direction in which said spring means urges said latch plate.

EDWIN L. ALLEN.

(References on following page) Number REFERENCES CITED 2,094,413 The following references are of record in the 2,259,766 file of this patent: r 2359150 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Number 425,323 Hornal et a1 Apr. 8, 1890 153,641 1,100,820 Edwards June 23, 1914 632,624 1,601,647 Rose Sept. 28, 1926 10 Name Date Schonitzer Sept. 28, 1937 Murphy Oct. 21, 1941 Peglow Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria. June 25, 1938 Germany July 10, 1936 

